The Russellville City Council didn't wait for two additional readings to approve an agreement out of court that would end a feud between two water utilities that's gone on for four years.

Council members unanimously approved an agreement reached last month by City Corp., Russellville's water utility, and the Tri County Regional Water Distribution District. Instead of reading the ordinance three times in the next three months, a motion was approved to read the ordinance by title only and explain with a short description.

Aldermen said there were probably some citizens who wanted to review the document, but they were prepared to pass it during Thursday night's regular meeting and did.

"Two boards have worked on this agreement with counsel watching every step of the way," Alderman Phil Carruth said. "It will solve some problems in the courts. It will take care of all that. It has been recommended to us by both those boards. We have had the chance to scan this a little bit, and I could pass it tonight."

City Corp. General Manager Craig Noble and Tri County General Manager Harry Willard both thanked aldermen and Mayor Tyrone Williamson for their support in both utilities reaching an agreement.

Late last month, board members from both utilities signed an agreement that entailed Tri County restructuring its water rates for the first time since it opened in 1983. The utility had 1,800 customers in 1994, and 7,000 water customers in 2007. Revenues have also climbed from $800,000 in 1994 to $3.5 million in 2007.

City Corp. agreed to sell Tri County water at a cost of $1.06 per 1,000 gallons, and after June, that rate will increase slightly due to treatment costs. The two utilities will meet annually to calculate their adjusted rates, and every three years to set the rate structure.

The water utilities will have to undergo three steps in the future in case of any disputes: 1) One board member and one manager from City Corp. and Tri County will form a committee. If that doesn't resolve the dispute, then 2) a neutral mediator will be hired to conduct business between the two utilities. If that doesn't work, a three-person arbitration panel will be created to hear the disputes and rule.

In addition, City Corp. will provide water service to residents in the Cove Landing/Gum Log areas, while Tri County will continue to provide sewer services. City Corp. will also improve the infrastructure of the water systems in the area, including a new pumping station. Tri County must also gain approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development, since the utility has a lean on the property from the government agency.

Both general managers told The Courier previously the agreement and settling out of court is saving water customers "hundreds of thousands of dollars."

Planning members

Alderman Robert Wiley asked to table three appointments to the Planning Commission - Wayne Phillips, Bill Sparks and Margaret Bagby. After Thursday's meeting, he explained why.

"Myself and another alderman who's on the Personnel Committee were in favor of changing the system we have on terms commissioners can serve on the planning board," Wiley said. "Before we want to get any names before us, we want to come up with a system that will work to where they have two members rotate off every year.

"Eight members serve four years, so we'll try to fix it to where two members will come off each year. The oldest two members will come off the first time, then next year, the next two who have served. We've got to get some system that is fair to the other citizen, so that we don't have some serving 10 years, some serving 12 years, some serving two years."

Wiley expressed his concern for Phillips' and Bagby's appointments at last week's agenda prep meeting, noting he would have suggested different appointments to the commission.

"I'd like to know the names in advance so we could have discussed it," Wiley said in a previous Courier article by Brooke Chambers.

Williamson said his three proposed appointments to the commission were chosen because they volunteered for the open positions.

Aldermen Randal Crouch, Carruth and Bill Eaton agreed, adding they would like to see a procedure for appointing planning commission members, such as having aldermen submit names for review. Aldermen also said they would like to see term limits placed on those serving on city committees.

Officer approved

Police Chief Tom McMillen's departmental report during the beginning of the meeting must have been a good one. His request for an additional warrants officer within the department passed unanimously.

Carruth suggested the position go before the Budget Committee in the fall, when the council could determine if the position is still needed. Alderman and Finance Committee Chairman Cliff Kirchner said he met with McMillen and compiled some figures on warrants that have been collected and are still outstanding.

"There is definitely a need," Kirchner said. "There's a lot of people out there who break the law, and we've developed a backlog of those types of people. As finance chairman, we'll keep up with the costs and revenue involved in warrants."

During last week's meeting, Williamson presented figures to the council that showed the need for the position - 8,500 outstanding warrants exist in Pope County worth more than $1 million.

Currently, McMillen said, one warrants officer must also act as a Russellville District Court bailiff more than two days a week. After Thursday night's meeting, McMillen credited Kirchner on the improved working relationship between the council and the police department.